But that, of course, was lost on Lady Bodrean.

Jane, Lady Bodrean's personal maid, winked at me. "A nice cup of tea?" she said. "I've got it all ready." She had a little spirit lamp in her room, which she had made very comfortable.

I sat down and she poured out.

"My word, she's got it in for you."

"I gather my company doesn't give her much pleasure. I wonder she doesn't allow herself the treat of being rid of it."

"I know her. She's enjoying herself. She likes tormenting people. She was always like that. I've been with her since before she married. She's got worse."

"It couldn't have been very comfortable for you."

"Oh, I know how to handle her. Sugar, Miss Osmond?"

"Thank you. Yes," I said thoughtfully, "she does seem to dislike me more than is warranted. Mind you, I am ready to admit I don't perform my duties with great efficiency. I can't imagine why she doesn't do what she is always hinting she will. Dismiss me."

"She doesn't want that. Who's she going to torment then?"

"There's a fairly large staff to choose from. Surely from among you all she could find some highly tormentable type."

"Oh you joke about it, Miss Osmond. Sometimes I think you're going to explode though."

"So do I," I said.

"I remember you coming here for your lessons. We used to say, 'My word, that one's got more spirits than all the rest of them put together. Regular little firebrand!'"

"And now you see the metamorphosis of Judith Osmond."

"Eh? I've seen it happen before. The nursery governess before that Miss Graham. Nice spirited sort of girl, she was. But she hadn't been here long when things started to happen. Sir Ralph had his eyes on her and when Lady Bodrean got to work . . . My word, she changed. In the old days Sir Ralph, he were a one. No woman safe from him. He's changed a lot too. He's got quieter. I've seen him have some funny dizzy turns too. Slowed him down a bit. There've been some scandals." She came closer to me and her lively brown eyes were alight with pleasure. "Women," she said. "Couldn't leave a pretty girl alone. The fur used to fly. Many times I've heard . . . being in the next room, you know. Couldn't help but hear even if I tried not to."

I could picture her, ear to keyhole while a younger Don Juan of a Sir Ralph stood accused before his wronged wife.

"After a while she seemed to make up her mind that there was nothing she could do about it. He'd go his way, she'd go hers. He wanted a son, of course. And there wasn't another child after Miss Theodosia. So Master Hadrian came to live here. But she, her ladyship, seemed to be more of a tartar every day; and once she gets her knife into someone . . . she's going to use it."

I said: "I should get out, I suppose."

Jane moved farther towards me and whispered confidentially, "You could find a better place. I've thought about this. What about Miss Theodosia?"

"What of her?"

"This ball . . . well, it's a sort of coming out. All the fine rich gentlemen of the neighborhood will be invited. Then they'll have balls and such like goings on. You know what it's all leading up to."

"Miss Theodosia is being paraded before them, in all her charms, and by no means the least of these is the nice golden dowry glittering round her neck. 'Young gentleman, show your credentials and make your bid.'"

"You always had your answer, didn't you? I used to say to Miss Graham, 'My goodness, that one's got a bit of lip, she has.' But what I'm getting at is this. Before long they'll find a husband for Miss Theodosia, and then you're her friend ... so ..."

"I, her friend. Please don't let Lady Bodrean hear you call me that. I'm sure she would be most indignant."

"Now you're getting bitter. It's all along of once being treated like one of them and now finding yourself here in a paid job. You have to be clever. Now you and Theodosia were together as children. You were the one who used to order her about. Theodosia's not like her mother. Suppose you remind her of your friendship."

"Ingratiate myself with the daughter of the house?"

"You could become friends with her again and when she marries . . . you see what I mean? Miss Theodosia wants a companion and who better than her old friend. What do you think of it?"

"Machiavellian!" I said.

"You can laugh. But I wouldn't like to think of spending my life looking after an old tartar like that."

"Suppose Theodosia doesn't marry?"

"Theodosia not marry! Of course she will. Why they've got the man for her already. I heard Sir Ralph talking to her ladyship about it. Quite a to do there was. She said: 'You've got an obsession with those people. I think you wanted Hadrian for Sabina.'"

"Oh?" I said faintly.

"I wouldn't mind taking a bet with you, Miss Osmond, that before the year's out the engagement will be announced. After all there's a title. Money, well I'm not so sure of that, but Miss Theodosia will have enough, won't she? When her father dies she'll inherit everything I reckon. Why she'll be one of the richest young ladies in the country. Of course, I wouldn't say they're exactly poor, but money's always useful and they say that he has poured a fortune into this work of his. A funny way of squandering your money I must say. When you think of what you can do with it ... and it all goes in digging up the ground in foreign places. They say some of those places are so hot you can hardly bear it."

I said, although I knew the answer already: "So for Theodosia they've chosen . . . ?"

"The son, of course. Mr. Tybalt Travers. Oh yes, he's the one they've chosen for Theodosia."

I could scarcely bear to sit there and listen to her chatter.

Sir Edward and Tybalt had returned to Giza House and they came to dine at Keverall Court. I contrived to be in the hall when they arrived, pretending to arrange some flowers.

Tybalt said: "It's Miss Osmond, isn't it?" As though he had to look twice to make sure. "How are you?"

"I'm the companion now, you know."

"Yes, I heard. Are you still reading?"

"Avidly. Mrs. Grey is so helpful."

"Good. Father, this is Miss Osmond."

Sir Edward gave me his vague look.

"She's the one who dressed up as the mummy. She wanted to know what it felt like to be embalmed and placed in a sarcophagus. She's read several of your books." Now Sir Edward's attention was on me. His eyes twinkled. I think the mummy adventure amused him. He was more like Tybalt now.

I wished that I could have stayed there talking to them. Lady Bodrean had appeared at the top of the staircase. I wondered whether she had heard my voice.

"My dear Sir Edward . . . and Tybalt!" She swept down the stairs. "I thought I heard you talking to the companion."

I went to my room then and stayed there all the evening. A respite from my tyrant because she was busy with her guests. I pictured them at the dinner table and Theodosia looking pretty in pink satin—gentle, amenable, with an immense fortune which would be so useful in financing expeditions to exotic places.

I don't think I ever felt quite so hopeless as at that moment, and with the recent encounter with Tybalt fresh in my mind—which confirmed everything I had ever thought him—I was more certain than ever that he was the only man for me. I asked myself whether I should offer my resignation without delay.

But, of course, that was not my nature. Until he was married to Theodosia I would continue to dream . . . and hope.

I walked the dogs over to Giza House and as I did so a voice called "Judith."

I turned and there was Evan Callum coming out of Giza House.

"Judith," he cried, his hand outstretched to take mine, "this is a pleasure."

"I heard you were coming," I said. "It is so good to see you.

"And how is everything with you?"

"Changed," I said.

"And not for the better?"

"The rector died. You know that Oliver married Sabina, and I am now companion to Lady Bodrean."

He grimaced.

"Ah," I said with a smile, "I see you have an inkling of what that means."

"I worked in the house once, you remember, as a sort of tutor to you all. Fortunately my work did not come under her jurisdiction. Poor Judith!"

"I tell myself fifty times a day not to be sorry for myself. So if I'm not you must not be."

"But I am. You were the best of my pupils. You had such an enthusiasm; and that is one of the greatest assets in this profession."

"Are you accompanying them on this expedition?"

"Unfortunately, no. I'm not experienced enough for such an honor. There'll be much coming and going between Keverall and Giza, I believe. Sir Ralph is being persuaded to help finance the project."

"He was always vitally interested. I hope they'll succeed in getting what they want."

"Tybalt has no doubt of it." He looked round him: "How this brings back the old days. You, Hadrian, Theodosia, Sabina. Oddly enough the one who was least interested was Sabina. Have they changed?"

"Sabina has become the rector's wife. I see very little of her. My duties do not give me much time. I visit Dorcas and Alison when I can manage it and I come over here to see Mrs. Grey who has been so kind in lending me books."

"On our subject of course."

"Of course."

"Good. I could not bear for you to tire. I hear Hadrian will be home at the end of the week."

"I didn't know. I am not told such things."

"Poor Judith. Life's unfair sometimes."